BOOST FOR UK’S HOME WATER LEISURE SECTOR

An emphasis on family wellness, post-Covid, is driving sustained investment in home swimming pools, hot tubs and swim spas.

Investment in health and exercise on the doorstep has seen the UK home water leisure sector sustain a half billion pound market value for both indoor and back garden leisure facilities.

“Demand is particularly high in quicker build home swimming pool options such as one-piece swimming pools and swim spas as people consciously see the value of investing in wellness as well as fun family time,” advises Christina Connor, managing director of Waterland Media and editor of Pool & Spa Scene magazines.

“Demand is so high for home swimming that customers are sometimes having to wait a year for a project to get underway,” Christina adds. “Projects are becoming more involved and more expensive with a clear trend for people to improve rather than move by investing in their own leisure facilities for water related exercise, relaxation and home entertaining.”

Showcasing the very best examples of pool and spa design from across the country, the UK Pool & Spa Awards celebrated its 12th anniversary with featured projects and products.  With 225 entries from 60 companies to assess, 22 judges were involved in the 2022 decision-making.

Winners across 30 categories were announced during the presentation at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham on Thursday December 8^th which featured a guest appearance from The Pool Guy, a pool maintenance specialist from Bedfordshire, who boasts 13.7 million followers on Tik-Tok and over one million likes on You Tube.

Entrants were awarded gold, silver or bronze standard in the competition covering both home and public pool and spa facilities in a contest that attracted over 2,000 on-line votes and votes from judges, before being scrutinised by an independent jury.  

The event saw a Lifetime Achievement Award presented to industry veteran Bob Kent, the founder of Certikin and now managing director of MSi while Special Achievement Awards presented to:

• The Pool Guy for his outstanding social media performances.
• AstralPool UK for their outstanding team work on the training pool for the Commonwealth Games swimming events
• All Swim of Cardiff in recognition of 50 years in business.
• Tom Holman of Fowler Swimming Pools on his retirement as managing director after 40 years’ loyal service.

More information on the awards, including a full list of winners, can be found at www.ukpoolandspaawards.co.uk